Director of Outdoor Programs and Recreation and Assistant Director of Student Experiential Learning

POSITION CODE: 7328

DEPARTMENT/ADMINISTRATION: Community Service Learning, Student Affairs

APPOINTMENT: Administrative, Full-time, Twelve (12) months 

SALARY RANGE: $66,560 - $70,000 Annually, Pro-rated

HIRING RANGE: Anticipated hiring range is near or at the minimum of the classification,

commensurate with candidate's education, experience, skills, and training.

INTRODUCTORY PERIOD: One (1) Year

BENEFITS OVERVIEW: BROCHURE 

AVAILABLE: Immediately

POSTING DATE: September 10, 2024

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open Until Filled, Apply Immediately.

Definition of Classification:

The Director of Outdoor Programs and Recreation and Assistant Director of Student Experiential Learning at University of Redlands provides student-centered leadership, direction and daily operations oversight in all programming areas of the department, which includes recreational and experiential Outdoor Programs and First Year Journeys student experiences at the University of Redlands. An inspirational leader, the Director plays an integral role in Student Affairs supporting comprehensive high-impact programs and promising practices that support outcomes leading to increased experiential learning, leadership education and development, engagement, wellbeing, campus affinity, joy, and retention of all students.

This position reports to the Assistant Dean of Student Experiential Learning and Sustainability and is a member of the Office of Community Service Learning team within the Division of Student Affairs. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Directs the Outdoor Programs and Recreation department, including First Year Journeys and the Rental Shop, emphasizing breadth of involvement across the campus with depth of engagement in high impact programming that drives student retention through student engagement and experiential learning outcomes.
• Directs signature proven high impact programming such as curriculum based First Year Journeys, Trip Leader Trainings, and Fall and Spring Break Outdoor Programs Trips that deliver significant experiential learning and student retention outcomes.
• Responsible for Outdoor Programs and Recreation budget management, including departmental, gift funds, grant funding, and compliance with fund assurances such as gift tracking, reporting, and donor funding guidelines.
• A member of the Student Experiential Learning Advisory Group and Bulldog Pathways, the Director fosters collaborative partnerships that contribute to curricular and co-curricular transformation through innovative multidisciplinary and intersectional seamless experiential student learning opportunities, signature programming engagement and outcomes.
• Serves as an active member and partners with members of the Student Wellbeing Collaborative, including offices such as Student Wellbeing, Student Campus Life, Athletics, Community Service Learning, and others to identify and collaborate on advancing student recreational wellbeing engagement initiatives (e.g. yoga, Pilates, Zumba, dance lessons, service initiatives for outdoor programs).
• Develops technical and experiential leadership skills curriculum, particularly for departmental student leaders, but also applicable throughout the division of Student Affairs.
• Develops, implements and assesses Outdoor Programs and Recreation’s risk management policies and plans, program curriculum design and implementation of trips and experiential learning experiences; student participant registration; training for student leaders, which they will co-instruct; implementation of industry standards and best practices focused on mitigating risk.
• Serves as part of a Student Affairs on-call rotation team, which includes Outdoor Programs and Recreation on-call support. Regularly reviews and updates on-call procedures and training.
• Recruits, trains and supervises Graduate Assistants of Outdoor Programs and Recreation, and student employees. Cultivates professional skillsets in student employees, including Rental Shop employees.
• Fosters and supports the Outdoor Programs Trip Leader community through recruitment, leadership development, and coordination of student volunteer Trip Leaders to create outdoor experiences for their peers.
• Guides and supports sponsorship of wilderness medicine courses on campus, all departmental student leader facing training (Outdoor Programs Trip Leaders, Apprentices).
• Coordinates management of all outdoor facilities including Disc Golf course and Outdoor Volleyball and Basketball sites under the Recreation Department’s prevue. Coordinates regularly with Athletic department on Athletic facility use for Recreation purposes.
• Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, by fostering environments that are open and accessible to all identities, races, and protected groups.
• Actively seeks opportunities and builds programming to expand and strengthen engagement with underrepresented groups of students, transfer and commuter student populations.
• Partners with Student Affairs leadership, Community Service Learning leadership, and Advancement to establish fundraising priorities, meaningful donor engagement, recognition, communication updates on stewardship gift impacts on student outcomes, and to ensure gift funding compliance.
• Assist in the preparation and submission of grant proposals, ensuring that they align with donor interests and organizational needs.
• Collaborates with partners, including Athletics, Community Service Learning, Student Involvement and Success, Orientation, ResLife, Housing, Wellbeing, Academic Affairs, Inclusion and Community, Career and Professional Development, Advancement, Admissions, Marketing, community partners, and others.
• Aligns work and goals with University and Student Affairs division learning outcomes, strategic plan priorities, and divisional priorities.
• Promotes marketing and communication with both students and peers across multiple communication modes. Directly communicates in-person via student instruction, coaching and mentorship. Communicates digitally via email, Navigate, 25Live, creation of targeted marketing materials, social media across various audiences including externally. Communicates with external parties including local, federal and non-profit land management agencies, conservation groups, outfitters and vendors.
• Serves on various Student Affairs and University committees, supports divisional and campus wide initiatives and programs, and serves in other capacities as assigned, potentially including Title IX investigations/advising, Community Standards Review boards, Strategic Planning working groups, etc.
• In collaboration with division leadership and the Office of Advancement, assist in “friend building” to garner financial support among current and potential stakeholders.
• Tracks student engagement and assessment data, conducts programmatic departmental assessment, analyzes student cohort outcomes, and prepares annual reports.
• Performs other related duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualification Guidelines

Any combination equivalent to, but not limited to, the following:

Experience/Training/Education:

Required

• Master’s degree in Outdoor Education, Recreation, Education, or related field.
• Three to five years of previous experience with student recreation, outdoor programs, experiential learning, student activities, social media, and/or event planning.
• Wilderness First Responder (current with CPR) medical certification or ability to obtain within 6 months of appointment.
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and driving record with a safe driving record acceptable to the College’s automobile insurance carrier.
• A valid California Class C CA drivers’ license with a good driving record is required. Note: Out-of-state licenses are valid until appointment. A valid California Class “C” driver’s license must be obtained within ten (10) days of appointment (in accordance with CA Vehicle Code 12505c).

Preferred

• AMGA SPI, Swift Water Rescue, Avalanche Certification, Professional Mountain Bike Instructor, Fitness Instructor, etc., would be beneficial but not required.
• Leave No Trace Trainer would be beneficial but not required.
• Red Cross Lifeguard Certification would be beneficial but not required.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Extensive background in outdoor experiential education – time spent in the backcountry/wilderness, on course, and practical application of wilderness leadership skills (i.e. Outward Bound, NOLS, WEA as student and instructor).
• Strong budgeting, organizational and projection skillsets.
• Experience with a variety of Recreational gear including rentals, sales, and demonstration.
• Strong wilderness leadership skills – solid knowledge of and ability to instruct technical skills and interpersonal skills.
• High level of independent and creative thinking with results-oriented motivation.
• Rational reasoning, judgment, and assessment skills – both field based and on an everyday basis.
• Knowledge of rules and regulations in regards to permitting and public land access across multiple jurisdictions.
• Knowledge of course areas for outdoor activities in California and Western United States and surrounding regions.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence. Must be able to competently interact with a culturally and ethnically diverse population of students, faculty, and staff.
• Knowledge of safety practices and current industry standards in regards to risk management.
• Demonstrated emotional intelligence and ability to successfully manage and lead others in crisis response.
• Ability to oversee and advise student and professional staff , with ability to engage, motivate, mentor, and develop college-age students and young professionals.
• Knowledge of and model for Leave No Trace practices and ethics.
• Skilled in the cultivation of stakeholder relationships.
• Communicate effectively and follow instructions, both verbally and in writing.
• Aptitude to learn new and evolving technology and recommend ways to improve position’s efficiency.
• Excellent technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to recommend appropriate courses of action within established guidelines.
• Ability to foster strong, positive relationships and align both internal and external resources to achieve university objectives.
• Ability to exercise discretion and work with confidentiality.

Note: The successful candidate will have experience in developing, executing, and assessing recreational and outdoor experiential high impact programming, ideally for college-age students. The candidate will have experience leading large scale, wilderness based outdoor recreation activities and trips. Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with ability to supervise and develop students and professional staff is required. A high level of creative problem solving, strategic vision, assessment and analysis of strengths and opportunities in the Redlands student experience will be important to a successful candidate.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions:

Working Conditions:

Standard office setting. Duties performed are primarily in an office environment while sitting at a desk or computer workstation or in meetings. At least minimal environmental controls to assure health and comfort.

Physical Demands:

Incumbents regularly sit for long periods; walk short distances on a regular basis; may travel to various locations to attend meetings and conduct work; use hands and fingers to operate an electronic keyboard or other office machines; reach with hands and arms; stoop or kneel or crouch to file; climb stairs; speak clearly and distinctly to answer telephones and to provide information; see to read fine print and operate computer; hear and understand voices over telephone and in person; and lift, carry and/or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

TO APPLY: A resume/CV and cover letter are required. In compliance with The Americans with Disabilities Act, if selected for the interview process and accommodations are needed, please call (909) 748-8040. If you are unable to complete an application due to a disability, contact us at (909) 748-8040 to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

HIRING RANGE: Anticipated hiring range is near or at the minimum of the classification, commensurate with candidate's education, experience, skills, and training. The University of Redlands is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The full salary range for this position is defined as the Full Pay Range. The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position defined as the Hiring Range. Placement within the Hiring Range is determined by internal equity, and relevant qualifications. 

BACKGROUND CHECK: Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. The University will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.

DRIVER'S LICENSE CHECK: Possession of a valid Driver's License is required for certain positions. Employees in positions that require a valid Driver’s License will be enrolled in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Government Employer Pull Notice Program which confirms possession of a valid driver's license and reflects driving record.

PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMS: For certain positions typically in Public Safety, Facilities, Athletics and Information Technology Services departments, employment is contingent upon a candidate passing a pre-employment physical exam with the ability to lift in excess of 50 lbs. Public Safety Officers, in addition to a pre-employment physical exam, will also be required to pass a psychological evaluation. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT 

http://www.redlands.edu/human-resources/employment/ 

SUBMISSION OF A RESUME OR APPLICATION INDICATES AGREEMENT THAT THE UNIVERSITY MAY VERIFY ANY AND ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN. 

MEMBERS OF UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. 

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Salary : $66,560 - $70,000